Car washing machine



Jan. 22, 1935. Q RQSS CAR WASHING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1953 6 Sheet s-Sheet l Emm /27w.- i Zg/da P 1 053 Jan. 22, 1935. Q oss 1,988,665

CAR WASHING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 22, 1935. c. P. ROSS CAR WASHING MACHINE Filed March 31 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 fave/22%;". Zyde P F055 MVM Jan. 22,; 1935.

C. P. ROSS CAR WASHING MACHINE e She ets-Sheet 4 Filed March 31, 1935 659456 P R055 n,- /l YMI (I III] I III llql flhlfl'l u IhH I -HI H II huh ln hu n-lllr ll hulnnnull'll IIIL Jan. 22, 1935. Q 955 CAR WASHING MACHINE Filed March 51, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 J' MMM,

Jan. 22, 1935. c. P. ROSS CAR WASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 u ,FEEEE Filed March 51, 1933 1 /202972 for: Cjydc P 2 05.5

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Patented Jan. 22, 1935 o ae PQ Ross, Kenilworth, 111., assign a Boss and White Company, Chicago, 111., acorpoifa tion of Illinois Application March 31, 1933, Serial no. 663,171?

6 Claims. (01. 15-53) This invention relates. to washinezmachin s, and has to do with a machine for washing cars and like vehicles. .a j v y It is known :to provide two washing machine I spo d a opposite, sides of a track along which a car passes and is subjected to a washingoperation as it passes between the machines. This necessitates the use of twov machines, which are rather expensive, and the time saved in washin a oardoes not offset the expense incurred in the provision of twomachines.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a washing'machine which, when disposed between two tracks, can be adjusted so asto wash-the side of a car traveling in eitherdirem tion upon either track. In this manner, I render it possible to wash a car with a single machine,

thus eliminating the expense incident to .the pro.- vision of, two machines in accordance with the present practice.

adjacent tracks'and adjustable so as towash a car traveling upon'either track. A further object of my invention is to provide a machine having brushes for washing the body ,of the car, these brushes being automatically adjustable to accommodate transverse tiltingof the ear being washed. It is also an Object of-my invention to provide improved means for driving the brushes of the machine. Further objectsand advantages of nv n on will appear from the detaildescription." we 7 5111 the drawinesz+ V Figure luis a side view .ora lcar washing ma chine constructed in accordance-withmy invention; l

Figure'z .is a section taken substantially on line 22 oi Figure 1, on an enlarged. scale, parts'be ing shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on Figure dis a semi-diagrammatic view, broken away and partly insection, illustrating ,the use of .two machinesnconstructed in accordance with my invention ior washing :a car;

Figure ,5 .is la sectiontaken substantially on line 5--,5l-o f Figure 4, the washingsmeehanisins and thecar bein washed bein shown inselevation;

;Fia e:. :isadiaerammaticvi w illustrating-the machine capablenf being disposed between. two

' ha t lla atably mou ed otat cnof th supno t.

adiacentsupn nt adiustabi tvo thehodv brushes to accommoda e ltin O the h dyscf th can; V I a Fi ur 7 is a diaeranunatic. view illustratin he use of the machine of my inventicnhw hen dise ed between tw adjacent tr cksior. w shin one de Q a a travell n upon ne trackaand' h c hcsi s e Of the r wh n travellingounan' he other track; s Fi u e 8 is a dia rammatic view similarwto F gur '1 on a re uc d; scale, nd-show ng he; w c es rransferrin the a from one track. o t e the F ur v9 is. aseet cnal view, n an-enlarsed a with p rts b ok nv away- .and shown: in elev cn throu h the neve nor Qnnirthema hine QQm ris-ih ihe upper arms hezb ushscarrying frames and associated parts;

F u 19 is view simila t F uree throu h e lowe he brush carrying frames and:

n the upper end of cylindrical hate: t which th -sear 6 i secured by .clcwel nine B se m mbe 71 cmpris s re niorcine webs 9; and a base i anee 1.0 ada ed to .bcltine' to su abl :fcundaticnlfla lower en port on: of suppo t 1 fits snug with thexhcdvci ha e m e an is su p r ed-byi ellmemb raand a ocia par s or mtation vertical The s irt n tion .o rhel ic r :2 carries a1 and a w rm gear 12 s Secured pon and meshes th wheel :16, theslatter bein 'fisedtc the ase membe e hand wheelg tris sec redumn: th uter end o sha t lli c rotat ng the latter,

1 formoveinenton an axispanallclwith the asiscf cmnrisesan pper far-mm a afllower 5a y, these armsonvenient y ein of ch nnel crossesection A, ea in box :16 iFigure 9) is secured swarms- 1 dcreceives 2a hustlin :1 iexrfismua bee. m lhQX 1 18 bolted;

endin elcnardlv bracket 19 and into a bushing 23 seated in the upper end of a bearing box 24 bolted to a channel bracket 25 which is weldedor otherwise-"suitably secured to support 1. A shaft 26 extends into the lower portion of bearing box 24 and thence downwardly through a bearing box 27 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to upper arm 28 of .a

secondary frame, this arm preferably being of channel cross-section. A thrust collar '29 is se-' cured upon the shaft and contacts the lower end of bearing box 27; A sleeve 30 is disposed about shaft 26 concentrically therewith and is secured to the shaft bymeans of annular plugs 31 disposed in the ends of the sleeve and welded thereto and to the shaft. Shaft 26 extends downwardly beyond sleeve '30 (Figure 10), through the web element of lower arm 32 of the secondary frame, which arm is preferably of channel cross-section, and through a bearing box 33 suitably secured to this arm. The shafts 21 and 26, and associated parts, provide means whereby the upper arm 14 of the main frame and the upper'arm and the lower arm of the secondary frame are pivotally mounted for movement about a'common axis, it being noted that this axis is coincident with the axis of shaft 21. b 1 I I A bearing box 34 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a channel bracket 35 welded to support 1 at the lower portion thereof. This box 34 receives the lower endof shaft 26 and the upper end of the box provides a seat for the lower end of a worm wheel 36 suitably secured on the shaft. This worm wheel is disposed within a gear housing 34a-formed integrally with the bearing block 34 and meshes with a worm 37 secured on a shaft 38 rotatably mounted in the housing 34a, a hand wheel 39 being secured on the outer end of this shaft for rotating'the latter in desired direction. A housing cover 40 is mounted on shaft 26 and is confined between the upper end of the hub ofworm wheel 36 and a thrust collar 41 upon which the lower end of bearing block 33 rests. The shaft 1 26 and the secondary frame and associated parts are thus supported by bracket 35, arms 28 and 32 of the secondary frame being movable about shaft 26, andthe latter and sleeve 30 being rotatable independently of the secondary frame by means of worm wheel-36 and worm 3'7,'the worm wheel and worm providing means for rotating sleeve 30 and looking it in adjustment.

' A bearing box 42 is bolted or'otherwise suitably secured to the web portion of lower arm 15 of the main frame, this arm preferablybeing of channel cross-section. A stubshaft 43 extends through bearing box 42' and into a bearing box 44 bolted or otherwise-suitably secured to 'a lower" so that, the main frame and the secondar frame are pivotally mounted for movement on a common axis parallel with the axis of rotation of support 1.

The main frame carries a brush structure comprising a tubular brush shaft and upper and lower brushes 51 and 52 secured upon this shaft in a suitable manner, these brushes being spaced to contactthe side of a car above and below the windows and of a length to extend from the windows to the eaves and from the bottoms of the vindows to the bottom of the car body. A stub shaft 53 (Figure 10) is secured in the lower end of shaft 50 and is provided with a shoulder 54 upon which the lower end of shaft 50 rests. Shoulder 54 rests upon a thrust collar 55 disposed about stub shaft :53 and seating upon a self-aligning roller bearing structure 56 of known type mounted in a bearing box 57 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to lower arm 15 of the main frame, adjacent the outer end of this arm. The upper end of shaft 50 is connected by a universal joint 58, of known type, to a stub shaft 59 rotatably mounted in self-aligning roller bearings of known type, which bearings are mounted in a bearing box 60 bolted to the outer end 'of upper arm 14 of the main frame. The provision of the universal joint 58 in the brush shaft of the main frame, in conjunction with the independent pivotal mounting of the arms 14 and 15 of this frame, permits of limited relative movement between these arms so that the brushes 51 and 52 can accommodate slant of the side of the car due to transverse tilting thereof, which is not uncommon. In the use of the machine, the main frame extends lengthwise of the carat an inclination thereto and in the direction of travel thereof. If the tilt of the car is toward the apparatus, so that the panel of the body above the windows is somewhatnearer the apparatus than the panel below the windows, the brush structure of the main frame may incline to the left and upwardly as indicated by the dotted line position in Figure 6. If the tilt of the car is in the opposite direction, the brush structure of the main frame will be inclined upwardly toward the right, as indicated by the dotted line position in Figure 6. In this manner, the brush structure of the main frame accommodates tilting of the car in either direction, which assures proper contact of brushes 51 and 52 at the upper and lower panels, respectively, of the car body. This. is advantageous as assuring proper cleaning of the body of the car whether the side thereof be disposed vertically or at a slight inclination from the vertical in either direction.

A'spray pipe 61 is disposed between the arms of the main frame in parallel relation with and adjacent to brush shaft 50. At its upper end this pipe is connected by a ball joint 62 of known type (Figure 9) to anipple 63 which has its upper end welded to and closed by the web or bight portion of arm 14., The lower. end of spray pipe 61 is connected by a ball joint 64, similar to the ball joint 62, to the upper end of a nipple which is welded to andextends through the bight portion of arm 15. A'threaded coupling member 66, of known type, is provided at the lower end of nipple 65 for connecting thereto a hose leading from a suitable source of supply of water or washing solution under pressure. The flexibility of spray pipe 61, provided by the ball joints 64 therein, permits of relative movement of arms 14 and 15 for accommodating tilting of the brush structure to accord with tilting of the side of the car, above described.

Spray pipe 61 is disposed between the car body cordance with rotation of thegear.

by standardsuioz" boltedto upper arm 14 of the brushes 51 and .52 of the main frame-and a window v.brush' 7.0- carriedby .the secondary frame; Brush '10" isndisposed in'overlapping relation .to thebrushesfil and- 52 and is suitably secured upon a brush shaft 71, which shaft is mounted at its lower end (Figure in self-aligning roller bearings of known type carried by. a bearing box 72 A splash guard 73'is. secured to the shaft 71 and extends over the box 72' so as. to prevent. entry of moisture and foreign materials into the bearings, and a similar guard 74- is secured on stub shaft .53 above and adjacent bearing box 57. Bearing box '12 is bolted to a plate at the upper" end of a screw shaft 76 slidable through a sleeve 'I'Zboltedto the outer end of lower arm 32 of the secondary frame. 1 This shaft 76 is feathered to -the sleeve '77 so as to be held against rotation while being slidable through the sleeve. A bevel gear '78 is rotatably mounted about shaft 76, between the upper end of sleeve '17 and a collar '19 at the upperend of an L-shaped arm soextending from the base of sleeve 77:. Gear 28- isinteriorly threaded and engages the screw.

shaft 76 for adjusting the latter vertically inac- A shaft 81 is rotatably mounted through arm 80, the inner end'of this shaft extending into an opening in the sleeve adjacent the upper end of'the latter. A hand wheel 82 is secured upon the outer end of shaft 81 for rotating the latter in desired direction A bevel-pinion 83 is'secured on shaft 81 and meshes withbevelgear '78 for rotating the latter and adjusting screw shaft 76 when the hand wheel 82 is rotated. A shield 84, conveniently formed of sheet metal, is clamped between end of'these bearings and the lower end of the hub of splash guard 73.

- A bearing box 86 is bolted to the outer. end of upperarm 28 of the secondary frame and carries self-aligning roller bearings of known type. A

bevel gear 87 is rotatably mounted in the bearof gear 8'2, whereby the shaft 71 isfeathered to gear 87 for rotation therewith and is freely slidable through the gear. This connection between the shaft and the gear accommodates vertical adjustme-nt of shaft 71 by means. of the screw shaft 76 and associated parts, so that the window brush Z0 is capable of vertical adjustment to suit the height. of the. windows of a car being washed.

Bevel, gear 87 meshes with-a bevel gear 90v secured on the outer end of'a shaft 91-rotatably 'mounted in bearing boxes 92, [containing roller rotatably mounted in bearing boxes 101 carried main; frame. "A bevel gear IOB is secured upon the outer end of. shaft lddandmeshes with a bevel gear 104 secured. upon. thexupper endof stub shaft 59,; there being. a thrust'collar- 105 disposed between the lower end of the hub'of bevel. gear 104 and the upper end of the self-aligningv roller bearings mounted. incthebox-fid.

An electric motor 106,(Figure 1) is mounted upon the inner portion. of arm 14 of themain frame, which .arnris extended: inwardly beyond supportl to provide-amounting for this motor;.

The brush structure of the main frame is driven from. the motor through shaft 100 and gears 103 and. 104, shaft 71 of the window brush being driven through gears 99 and 98, shaft 21, gears 96a and 95, shaft 9.1, and gears 9.0 and 87. In this manner, the brushes of both of the frames are driven. by'shaft and gear means from: the motor, this drive. from the single. motor being rendered possible by having the shaft 21 coaxial withath-e common pivotal axis of the main frame and the secondary frame. 1 I

An'at-taching strip 110 is secured: to each arm of the mainframe and projectsbeyond the sides of the arm- Tension springs 111, of equal length and strength, connect the ends of strip 110 to attaching clips 112 pivotally mounted at 113' on ears 114. weldedor otherwise suitably secured to support 1 and projecting radially from the latter at diametrically opposite points thereof. Each of theclips 112 is provided with-an upwardly extending tab 115 which cooperates with ear 114 to limit inward movement of clip 112 beyondv substantial alignment with the associated ear 114, while permitting freedom of movement of the clip in the opposite direction about its pivot 113. Anattaching member 116 is welded to sleeve and is disposed to project beyond the sides of the mcondary frame in the normal position of the latter. Attaching clips 117 are pivoted at 118 to the ends of member 116,, each of these clips being provided with an upwardly projecting-tab 119 cooperating with member 116 to limit inward movement of the tabs 11'? beyond straight-line position with member 116. These tabs are connec-ted'by tension springs 120, of equal length and strength, to cars 121 welded to a tubular frame member 122 extending between and welded;v to upper and lower arms 28 and 32, respectively, of the secondary frame,-ears 121 being disposed in alignment and transversely of the arms of the secondary frame. Tension springs 111 normally hold the main frame in position to extend radially-from the support 1, and when the machine is notin use the sleeve 30 is normally adjusted so that springs 120 hold the secondary frame in parallel relation to the mainframe so as tobe. disposed therein and radial to support 1, as in Figure 3.' I 7 V In Figures 4 and 5 I have illustrated twoma chines embodying my invention disposed at oppositesides of a track T for simultaneously washing both sides of a car C traveling along the track in..th e,direction of the arrow and between the machines. The machines are'disposed at opposite sides of a shallow pit P over which the car travels, this pit having a'central drain D. Spray pipes l25and 126 are disposed at opposite sides of the pit adjacent the entry and exit ends thereof, respectively, these spray pipes being 'at opposite sidesof the support .1 of the machine and spaced therefronr-a distahcesomewhat greater than' the overall-length o'f' themain frame, ineluding-the brushescarried'thereby. The spray pipes have suitable spray armsl27extending therefrom and disposedito projectwashing solution or rinsing water against the sides of-the car. Conveniently,' 'spray pipe 125 is connected to a suitable source of supply of washinglsolution under pressure, which solution is projected onto the side of the -:car as it enters'the space above the pit. The spray pipe. 61 of the machine may be connected to a suitable source of supply of water or of washing solution, under pressure, and projects the'solution or water onto the brushes of bothof the frames; The'spray pipe 126 is connected to a suitable source of supply of rinsing water under pressureand serves to rinse off the car after washing thereof. The support 1 is; so adjusted that brushes 51 and .52 of the main frame will contact the side of the car and be held'thereagainst by spring pressure, this pressure being adjustable by appropriate adjustment of thesupport'. By turning the support'of the upper machine in Figure 4 in a clockwise direction, the tension'of springs 111, at the lower side of the machine in this figure, is increased, thus increasing the pressure exerted upon the" brushes 51 and 52. By turning the support in the oppo-v sitedirection, the pressure exertedv on these brushes may be decreased. The window brush is yieldingly urged toward the side of the car by means of thespring 120 at the lower side of the machine, as viewed in Figures 3 and 4, and the tension of this spring can be adjusted by rotatin'g sleeve 30 in proper 3 direction. -'Before the car enters between the two washing machineslthe brushes occupy substantially the dotted line positions of Figure '4'. The entering car .moves the brushes outwardly into the full line positions of Figure 4, in which positions the brushes are yieldinglyheld againstthe sides of the car and'the windows, during which time the brushes are rotated and effectively wash the sides of the car, including the windows; When the car :passes beyond the brushes, it is rinsed off by water projected-from the spray arms of the spray pipes 126.

'In' Figure 'L'I have shown one machine eznbodying my invention disposed between two adjacent tracks T for washing-one side of 'a' car traveling'in one direction upon one track, and theother side of the car traveling in the opposite direction upon the other track. A shallow pit P is disposed between the two tracks and extends a short distance beneath each track for receiving the washingand rinsing solution and water, this pit being providcd'with suitable drains d; The washing machine is disposed centrallyof the pit and spray pipes 130 are disposed at opposite sides of the washing machine and atthe transverse center ofthe pit. These'pipes are provided with spray arms 131'and are rotatable so as to be turned into position to project a washing solution or water onto the sidesof a car traveling -along either'track. 'Inth'is figure of the drawings, the frames of themachine are so disposed that the brushes thereof contact the side and windows of a car traveling toward the right on the upper track. In this case; spray pipe 130 at the left of. the machine may be connected to a suitable source of supply of washing solution under pressure, pipe 130 at the right of the machine being.

connected toa suitable source of supply of rinsingwater under pressure. By turning the support 1 through an arc of 180 degrees, in the directionof the arrow, the brushes are disposed. to contact, the side and windows of a car traveling in the direction of the arrow on the lower track, in which case the spray pipes occupy the-dotted line positions of Figure 7, washing solution being supplied to the spray pipe at the right of the machine and rinsing water supplied to the spray pipe at the left of the machine. If it is desired to wash the side of a car traveling upon the upper track and in the direction opposite to the arrow, in Figure 7, the support 1 is rotated. into such position that thebrushes occupy the position indicated by the dot and dash lines of this figure, in which case washing solution may be supplied to the righthand spray pipe and rinsing water supplied to the lefthand spray pipe, the latter spray pipe being turned so as to projectrinsing water against the side of the car beyond the brushes. Likewise, if it is desired to wash the side of a car traveling on the lower track oppositely to the arrow appearing in Figure 7, support 1 is rotated so as to bring the brushes into the positions indicated by the dot and dash lines of this figure, adjacent the lower track, in which case the lefthand spray pipe 130 receives Washing solution and the righthand spray pipe receives rinsing water, this spray pipe being turned so as to project the rinsing water against the. side of the car beyond the brushes. It will be clear from the above that my machine is capable of being used forwashing the side of a, car traveling in either direction upon either one of two tracks be; tween which the machine is positioned, thus eliminating the necessity of providing two machines for washing the cars. In Figure 8 I have shown the two tracks provided with suitable switches S by means of whichthe car C, traveling in either direction upon either one of thetracks, may be transferred therefrom to the other track andv moved along the latter in the opposite direction,

one side of the car being washed during its travel upon the first track, and the other side of the car being washed during its travelalong the second track. My invention thus eliminates the necessity of'using two machines and the expense incident thereto. On the other hand, in cases where it is desired to use two machines, my machineis entirely suitable for such use and is capable of use for washing cars traveling in either direction upon a track having washing machines in accordance with my invention disposed at opposite sides of'the track.

As above indicated, and as will be understood by'those skilled in the art, changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of the same, and I'intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in my application-in which the preferred forms only of my invention are disclosed.

What' I claim is:--

1. In combination in a washing machine-of the character described, a pivotally mounted main frame comprising upper and lower arms capable of limited independent movement about the pivot axisof the frame, a brush structure comprising a rotatably; mounted articulated shaft connecting said arms and accommodatingrelative movement thereof, a secondary frame pivotally mounted within and coaxially with the main frame, a

brush rotatably mounted in the secondary frame,

means for driving said shaft and said brush, and a spray pipe connecting the arms of the main frame and disposed to project fluid onto the brushes of both frames, said pipe being flexibly connected to the arms of the main frame for accommodating relative movement of said arms.

2. In combination in a washing machine of the character described, a rotatable support, means for rotating said support and locking it in adjustment, a main frame pivoted on the support for movement on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the latter, a secondary frame pivoted on the support coaxially with the main frame, brushes rotatably mounted on said frames, means for driving said brushes, a member mounted for rotation about the pivot axis of the secondary frame, means for rotating said member and locking it in adjustment, tension springs connecting the main frame at opposite sides thereof to the support at opposite sides of the latter, and tension springs connecting the secondaryfrarne at opposite sides thereof to said member at oppo site sides of the latter.

3. In combination in a machine for washing cars and vehicles of like character, a support mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a main brush frame pivoted on the support on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in the frame, a secondary frame pivotally mounted within and coaxial with the main frame, a brush rotatably mounted in the secondary frame, the secondary frame and the brush mounted therein being movable through the main frame in either direction about the pivotal axis of the main frame, said support being rotatable in both directions and through an arc of approximately 180 and the brush frames normally extending from the support substantially radial thereto, and means for driving said brushes.

4.111 combination in means for washing cars and like vehicles, a track defining a path of travel for vehicles to be washed, a support adjacent the track at one side thereof, a frame mounted on the support for swinging movement on a vertical axis, a brush rotatably mounted in the frame, means for driving said brush, and yielding means normally holding said frame substantially radial to the support, said support be-' ing rotatable on a vertical axis for disposing the frame at either side of said axis and in the general direction of the track.

5. In combination in means for Washing cars and like vehicles, two adjacent and parallel tracks defining paths of travel for vehicles to be washed, a brush frame, a brush rotatably mounted therein, means for driving said brush, and means between the tracks for supporting said frame and disposing it in position adjacent either track and extending from the support in either direction along and in the general direction of the track.

6. In combination in means for washing cars and like vehicles, two adjacent and parallel tracks I defining paths of travel for vehicles to be washed,

a support between the tracks, a brush frame mounted on the support for swinging movement on a vertical axis, yielding means normally holdthe frame in predetermined relation to the support, a brush rotatably mounted in said frame, said support being turnable on a vertical axis and through a complete rotation for disposing the frame in position adjacent either track and extending from the support in either" direction along and in the general direction of the track.

CLYDE P. ROSS. 

